A man was stabbed to death and another was injured in Hanoi Thursday after a minor traffic dispute between two men escalated into a pitched battle between two groups, one armed with deadly weapons, newswire Dan Tri reported.

Nguyen Manh Ha, 27, of Thai Binh Province, after drinking some beer, was riding near Phung Khoang Market in Tu Liem District, when a young man on a motorbike suddenly darted across the street, causing Ha to lose control and fall off.

The two picked up a quarrel, and the man called four of his friends who beat Ha up. In turn, Ha called his friends Nguyen Ngoc Dat, Nguyen Phu Tuan, and La Quang Tuan.

When they showed up, the man called for more reinforcements and a group of 10 men with knives and swords arrived at the scene.

Ha's group tried to settle the fight peacefully, but the other group refused and fell upon Ha and his friends.

Dat died on the spot and Ha was injured, but the other two managed to flee.

When the police showed up, the gang ran into a shop on Nguyen Trai Street to hide, and officers had to break down the door to get them.

But their identities have not been revealed, with the police saying they are still investigating.